Suspending device



Feb. 22, 1949. y N. M, BYRD 2,462,719

SUSPENDING DEVICE Filed Sept. 22, 1945 .fig-QL f.

5y 525%? MMM/WW@ Patented Feb. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES v:PATENT UFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a suspending device for attachment to a support, such as a bar, and which when under load is self-locking so as to resist movement toward the load.

The self-locking suspending device is formed in one unit, but may be attached to a base member, such as a rod, and is normallyslidable along the rod, but is self-locking when a load is applied. This unit is capable of a variety of uses, as it can be mounted ron various kinds of supports. One of its most important uses is on the bottom bar of an ordinary wire coat hanger where a pair of the devices can be used for holding garments. An important advantage of the device is that a pair of them can be used on the bar and are freely slidable along the bar until a load is applied. Thus, they may be spaced a desired distance and a garment stretched between the devices and they will then lock themselves to the bar. This serves to hold a garment, such as a skirt, in position and prevents the skirt from sliding down to one end of the hanger. of suspending devices distributes the weight of a garment along the hanger and is easily adjustable for garments of varying widths. The device is very light weight, cheap to construct, and is easily attached to or removed from a hanger, or the like.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment set out in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a wire coat hanger with a pair of suspending devices in place on the bottom bar; Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of one of the suspending devices attached to a bar; and Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the devices attached to a bar.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, each of the self-locking suspending devices is adapted to be mounted on a support such as the bottom bar I of an ordinary wire coat hanger. Each device includes a first portion I2 extending from the bar IB, a loop I3 passing over the other side of the bar; a second portion I4 extending from the other side of the loop in substantially the same direction as the rst portion and normally substantially parallel thereto; a third portion I5 extending from the free end of the second portion I4 to a point adjacent the bar I0, and a U-shaped wedge portion IB attached to the third portion and pressing against the under side of the bar IIJ. The first portion I2 is provided with a hook I1 on its free end to which the load may be attached.

As shown in Figure 1, a pair of the devices are A pair 'I ordinarily used and the garment, such as a skirt,

is suspended between them. As soon as a load is applied, the devicesv lock themselves to the bar to resist sliding in the direction of the load. Each device is made of resilient wire having a spring action, or other similar material.

A preferred construction of the devices, when they are to be used on coat hangers, or the like, is that shown in the drawings. As shown, the first portion I2 of each of the devices is arranged at an acute angle to the portion of the bar IU extending away from the center of the load. The second portion I 4 is also at an acute angle to this portion of the bar IIJ and extends away from the bar a considerable distance, although it is shorter than the first portion I2, so as not to interfere with the action of the hook II. The third portion I5 extends from the end of the second portion I4 to a point adjacent the bar I0 and in a direction toward the center of the load. The third portion I5 is at an acute angle to the second portion I4 and to the bar I0. In order that suicient locking action will be provided, the wedge I6 at the end of the third portion I5 should be a considerable distance from the loop I3.

As can be seen, the self-locking suspending devices are very simple and cheap to construct, yet are quite effective. They can be used on many types of base members and can be made to support very heavy loads by making the devices larger and stronger.

Having described my invention as related to one embodiment of the same, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description unless otherwise specified, but rather to be construed broadly within its spirit and scope, as set out in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A self-locking suspending device adapted for use on a bar support consisting of a normally slidable continuous unit comprising a rst portion normally extending from the bar when the device is in position thereon and arranged at an oblique angle to the bar, a hook formed on the free end of the rst portion, a loop on the bar end of the first portion extending around the top of the bar, a second portion extending from the other side of the loop in substantially the same direction as the rst portion and norm-ally substantially parallel thereto, a third portion at the end of the second portion extending at an acute angle up to a level above the center of the bar, and a U-shaped portion on the bar end of the third portion with the concave Apart of the U 3 pressing against the bottom of the bar, whereby an inward and downward force exerted on said rst portion urges said U-shaped portion into frictional locking lengagement with said bar.

3, A hanger device comprising a single resilient wire having a dependent hanger arm provided with garment suspending means at its lower end, a loop at the top of the hanger arm adapted 2. A self-lockinb suspending device made 0f 5 to support the device von a bar, a second portion resilient wire adapted to be mounted on a bar and normally slidable thereon but capable Of locking when loaded to resist sliding on the bar,

said device includ-ing a rst portion normally rex-Y extending below the loop in substantially the same direction -as the hanger arm, and an arm extending diagonally upward from the second portion, said arm being adapted to n'laintain the device in position on the barbypl'essure against the under side of the bar tending to cant the garf-ment suspending means from a freely hanging the bar in substantially the same direction asV X15 the first portion and normally substantially parallel thereto when the device is not funder-load, said first and second portions lying at an acute angle to the section of the bar extending 'away from the load, a third portion on the free end of the second portion and .extending to a point adjacent the bar Qn the 'side next to the load, said .third portion lying at an iacute angle to the second portion and to the bar, and a U-shaped wedge portion on the 'endof the third portion and contacting thebar on its under side.

position.

NOEL M. BYRD.

v"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the leof this patent:

UNITED STA'ES- PATENTS Nmnber Name Jllate 1833,'693 vNevins ',O'c't, L16, '190% 1,591,611 vBankiers Ju 1y"6,"1926 2,103,854 YKnol .Dec.;28, '11937 `r*2,190,102 Her'zing'r 'Fb."13, "1940 2,2.41g099 A Mills May 6,"1941 

